According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 300,000 people in the United States are employed as computer programmers. That means there is a lot of opportunity for those who have the requisite skills and programming language experience. While many computer programmers work as hourly or salaried employees, others find success by offering their services on a contract, project or freelance basis.

Contact companies you have worked for in the past and speak to the manager of the IT or systems department. Ask if the firm uses contractors and freelance programmers for special projects. Many companies use freelancers to write and maintain their programs, and supplement their full-time IT staffs.

Call temporary staffing agencies that specialize in filling technical positions. Temp agencies that specialize in technical support, programming and systems analysis jobs are good places to start. Submit a resume to the recruiter, along with samples of your work and information on the programming languages you are trained in.

Sign up for several freelance job boards and use the search tools to filter for programming positions. Use the built-in filters on the site to limit your search to the programming languages and skills you possess.

Submit samples of your past work, and a copy of your resume, to the freelance sites you sign up with. Having samples of your work available makes it easier or potential employers to assess your skills and determine whether or not you are a good fit for the positions you need to fill.

Network with other programmers, both in and out of the freelance world. Other programmers may be aware of positions and freelance opportunities that are not yet advertised to the general public.